News About This Theater

The Serra Theatre opened in May 1950. This was a large, comfortable first-run house when I worked there as an IATSE Union projectionist from 1980 to 1982. The first feature I showed there was "Superman II" in late-1980.

From what I have been told from several sources in the “old theatre fan” community, United Artists Theatres wanted to build a multiplex with parking garage on the large empty lot and existing parking area behind and to the side of this theatre, as well as in the huge basement beneath the original auditorium. The governing powers of Daly City did not want this for whatever reason, and so UA built a small multiplex across the freeway at Metro Center, Colma, and when this house opened, the Serra was promptly closed.

A coffee shop operated in the Serra lobby for several years in the mid-90s. The tenants respected and preserved the space perfectly, removing only the box office (storing it in the basement), since it attracted vandals.

Before the theatre was demolished, an antique dealer/theatre buff friend of mine purchased both auditorium chandeliers, both drinking fountains, and the chrome handles from the auditorium doors. Someone else purchased the box office, and still another person purchased and removed the huge neon and sheetmetal letter “A” from the vertical sign.

The theatre was demolished, save for its basement, lower wall structures, and lobby floor structure, which were all incorporated into the Mission style Hampton Inn which now occupies the site. A large part of the entry terrazzo sidewalk survives directly beneath the terra cotta tile entry floor surface.

In 1955 my future wife ,her mother ,father ,sister,sister’s boyfriend and I went to the Serra on ‘family night’. We all got in for a total of 74 cents. The movie was ‘The Big Sky’ with Kirk Douglas.great movie,great night.
Tony S

The May 20, 1950 issue of Boxoffice Magazine said that the Serra Theatre had opened on May 18. Operated by Golden State Theatres, the house had a stadium section, and a total (probably rounded off) seating capacity of 1000.